Small Bag Funnel

ABSTRACT

This apparatus is a funnel, which is used to assist in the transfer of solid foods, sauces, snacks, cereals, and craft items-such as beads, etc. into receptacles, particularly, small, sandwich type storage bags, larger food-freezer type storage bags, paper bags, etc. The funnel is comprised of a circular wide mouth opening at one end and tapers to a slightly smaller opening at the other end. It may be manufactured in various sizes, designed to accommodate different bag sizes. Once inserted into the bag, it will provide support to the bag and prevent the bag from collapsing upon the filling of the Small Bag Funnel. Also incorporated into the side of the Small Bag Funnel are the optional measuring indicators which can represent various measured quantities, such as portions of a cup, pint, gallon, etc., depending on the size of the funnel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

141/331 Funnel Type

Filling apparatus which comprises a funnel, i.e., a fluid supporting andguiding means, gravity discharged, which generally speaking has an inletopening of greater extent than its outlet opening, with or withoutadditional flow controlling means.

This invention relates to funnels, and more particularly to funnelswhich can be used to transfer various food items, and craft items intovarious types of bags. This invention would support the bag, allowingfor hands free, sanitary, and measurable filling.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

The use of funnels for the transferring of food or liquid, especially,when working in the kitchen, is well known. Most funnels are notintended or designed for the transferring of food, sauces, candy, orcraft items into bags. Bags, generally are not self-supporting, andtherefore are unable to remain upright. When attempting to transfer mostitems mentioned above, the typical, common funnels will be impracticaland ineffective, due to the small diameter at the bottom of the funnel,which is not practical or efficient in the transfer of some food itemsinto bags.

Other disadvantages of researched, patented funnels and filler-transferaids are that they will disperse, the transfer of some food items orother materials into the bag upon the filling of the funnel or thefiller-transfer aid, not having the ability to contain the material forthe purpose of measuring. Generally, most funnels are not designed tosupport the bag, they must be, held over the bag, with the bag beingsupported in some manner, or the funnel along with the bag must be heldup together, with one hand. Most funnels will not support the bag in anupright position, allowing you to have your hands free, for the processof filling the bag.

I have found through my research of related classifications that those,patented funnels and various filler-transfer apparatuses, which dosupport a bag, are complicated, inefficient, cumbersome, lackingsimplicity in design and practical material composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To conveniently and efficiently assist one in the task of fillingplastic bags, such as sandwich bags, food storage bags, or any othertype of small bags, with various food items, such as breadcrumbs,stuffing, trail mix, cereal, nuts, sauces, candy, etc. as well as craftitems, such as beads etc. The Small Bag Funnel is inserted into the bag,the smaller diameter end goes into the bag first, once inserted into thebag, this lends structural support to the bag, allowing the bag andSmall Bag Funnel to remain upright, if on a flat surface, such as atable or counter, without any additional support, and allow for filling.Upon filling the Small Bag Funnel, with the desired contents, and to thesatisfactory level, one merely pulls the Small Bag Funnel out of thebag, allowing the added contents to disperse from the Small Bag Funneland remain in the bag.

The embodiment of this device is by Injection Molding, using a choice ofPolypropylene, High Density Polyethylene, or Polystyrene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 A perspective view of the Small Bag Funnel.

FIG. 2 The view above is looking from the top of the Small Bag Funnel.You see right through the Small Bag Funnel due to the fact that bothends are open. The white area between the two circles represents theinside wall of the tapered Small Bag Funnel.

FIG. 3 Drawing of Small Bag Funnel as it would appear when inserted intoa plastic bag.

FIG. 4 Side view (all side views are the same)

FIG. 5 The Small Bag Funnel Illustrated as an example, with theoptional, Measuring Indicators.

Identification of the single component of this patent application shownin the figures below. Assigned is a reference numeral and a descriptivetitle next to the reference numeral for the component.

Reference Numeral Name of Part 1 The Small Bag Funnel (The singlecomponent of this invention) An open container that is Plastic Haslarger diameter opening at one end, and tapers down to a smallerdiameter opening at the other end 2 Bag (for illustration) 3 The SmallBag Funnel Illustrated as an example, with optional MeasuringIndicators, these indicators will vary depending on the size of theSmall Bag Funnel, and the desired increments of measure.

1. A device designed to assist one in the transfer of various food itemsor craft items, such as beads, into receptacles, particularly, sandwichtype storage bags and larger food-freezer type storage bags. The saiddevice as set forth in claim 1 wherein when inserted into a bag, the“said” device is able to maintain the bag in an open configuration,upright, and stable, and independent of additional support, freeing oneshands to be used in the transfer of the intended contents to betransferred into the “said” device and ultimately the bag The “said”device as set forth in claim 1 wherein upon insertion into the bag formsa cavity in the interior of the bag and the intended contents canreadily be inserted into the “said” device and wherein, once the desiredquantity is inserted into the “said” device, the “said” device isremoved from the bag, allowing the intended contents to remain in thebag